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themes » UNESCO

Admire Europe’s World Heritage Sites

From ancient ruins to modern architecture to entire towns to natural wonders, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites across Europe honor humanity’s accomplishments and celebrate art, beauty, and the importance of history.

Whether you’re on a quest to visit all the UNESCO sites in the world, or just casually interested, JayWay can plan an unforgettable trip featuring the most outstanding UNESCO sites and traditions in, around, and in between the European destinations you’re visiting. 

Explore Europe One UNESCO Site at a Time

UNESCO’s Mission

UNESCO was established by the United Nations soon after WWII to promote world peace and security through education, the sciences, and culture. The organization’s work focuses on protecting places of significant cultural, historical, or natural value. Since 2008, UNESCO has set out to document and protect traditions and events, too. These can be anything from a singing style, a craft, a sport, or a festival and are collectively known as UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. 

Europe’s Wealth of UNESCO Sites

Europe has by far the lion’s share of the entries on UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites list and many of the Intangible Cultural Heritage entries, too. It’s not surprising when you consider the wealth of sites related to the Roman and Greek civilizations throughout Southern Europe, but also more recent sites, such as the 1920s Functionalist architecture milestone Villa Tugendhat in Brno, Czechia’s vibrant second-largest city.

From the Acropolis that dominates the city of Athens in Greece to the historic center of Rome, the wondrous Eternal City that never fails to amaze, to the Alhambra complex in the sunny Andalusian town of Granada to the awe-inspiring Palace of Versailles just outside Paris, the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe is endless and it would require quite a few lifetimes to visit them all. 

Led by knowledgeable and passionate guides, the UNESCO-themed tours included in our itineraries provide invaluable insight into the wealth of our world’s immense heritage.  

A collage featuring three stunning examples of European architecture  Top Left The Peristyle of Diocletians Palace in Split Croatia showcasing ancient Roman architecture with its grand arches and intricate stonework reflecting the historical significance of this UNESCO World Heritage site  Top Right A view of the Generalife the summer palace and gardens of the Alhambra in Granada Spain The image captures the serene beauty of the Moorish-style gardens with their symmetrical layout water features and intricate arches evoking a sense of tranquility  Bottom The grand faade of the Palace of Versailles in France featuring its opulent Baroque architecture with gold accents large windows and a checkered courtyard The ornate details and luxurious design highlight the grandeur of one of the most famous royal residences in the world

Suggested UNESCO-Themed Itineraries Throughout Europe

Here’s a sample of our bespoke Europe itineraries that focus on UNESCO World Heritage Sites

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